NWS Phoenix

Weather Forecast Office

2021 Climate Year in Review for Phoenix, Yuma, and El Centro

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The year 2021 ended up being tied for the 10th warmest year recorded in the history of Phoenix, Arizona, 8th warmest at El Centro, CA, and tied for 8th warmest in Yuma. Records for Phoenix began in 1896, first taken in downtown and since moved to Sky Harbor airport in the 1950s. Records in Yuma began in 1878 and 1932 in El Centro.

The year 2021 started with a moderate La Nina pattern and the typical drier than normal conditions across the region. Although one relatively wet system impacted the region in January, the bulk of the winter was characterized by disturbances passing north of the area and intensifying in eastern parts of the United States. This pattern reinforced the dry regime, but allowed relatively moderate temperatures

The dry regime continues into spring 2021, however temperatures warmed beyond the usual thresholds this year. April 2021 ended up the 5th hottest on record in Phoenix while June 2021 was the hottest June ever recorded in Phoenix. Fine fuels at lower elevations were still evident from the past 2 wetter winter seasons resulting in ample fuel for the spring fire season. Even larger fuels at higher elevations were ripe for burning this year with the prolonged drought reaching into the Extreme and Exceptional category. Thus once again this year, large fires burned across many parts of the state.

The 2021 summer monsoon started quite abruptly with good quality moisture surging into the state in early July. The pattern during a large portion of July and August was very favorable for repeated rounds of thunderstorms as subtropical high pressure migrated further north into the Great Basin (and sometimes Pacific NW) while dynamic easterly waves frequently passed through southern Arizona. This rainfall was very welcome over the region, however the frequency and intensity of the showers resulted in many flash flooding events - especially over areas previously burned by wildfires. Several of these periods of active weather resulted in significant impacts including the dates of July 21-26, Aug 13-14, Aug 16-17, and Aug 18)

Monsoon thunderstorm activity shut down quickly in the beginning of September as the weather pattern shifted into an autumn pattern. Fall 2021 also resulted in a reemergence of La Nina conditions into the Pacific and a dry trend for the Southwest. Despite an extended period of drier weather during the fall and early winter, 2021 ended up an a rather wet note with several beneficial weather systems.

Phoenix Statistics

2021	Value	Rank
Avg High	88.2	8th Warmest
Avg Low	64.5	10th Warmest
Avg Temp	76.3	Tied 10th Warmest
Rain	7.11	62nd Wettest

Yuma Statistics

2021	Value	Rank
Avg High	89.2	Tied 22nd Warmest
Avg Low	63.7	Tied 13th Warmest
Avg Temp	76.5	Tied 8th Warmest
Rain	2.44	54th Driest

El Centro Statistics

2021	Value	Rank
Avg High	89.6	Tied 8th Warmest
Avg Low	60.0	10th Warmest
Avg Temp	74.8	8th Warmest
Rain	Missing	Missing

***Please note all climatic data are considered preliminary until validated by the National Centers for Environmental Information***

Phoenix Annual Temperature Rankings (Warmest Years)

Year	Avg Daily Temp
2017	77.3
2020	77.2
2014	77.1
1989	76.9
2016	76.7
2015	76.7
2012	76.7
2018	76.4
2007	76.4
2021	76.3

Year	Avg Max Temp
1989	89.8
2020	89.5
2017	89.1
2014	88.9
2012	88.7
2016	88.5
1934	88.3
2021	88.2
2018	88.1
2015	88.0

Year	Avg Min Temp
2017	65.4
2015	65.4
2014	65.4
2016	65.0
2020	64.9
2003	64.9
2007	64.8
2018	64.7
2012	64.7
2021	64.5

	Avg Max Temp	Highest Temp	Avg Min Temp	Lowest Temp	Avg Temp	Rank (1=Warmest, 126=Coldest)
Jan	67.9	79 on the 15th	44.7	36 on the 25th	56.3 /-0.5	24th
Feb	73.0	82 on the 2nd & 3rd	48.9	44 on the 19th & 27th	61.0 /+1.1	Tied 17th
Mar	76.6	89 on the 7th & 29th	51.7	39 on the 1st	64.1 /-2.2	Tied 41st
Apr	90.0	98 on the 4th	63.3	57 on the 28th	76.7 /+3.5	5th
May	96.2	102 on the 13th & 29th	70.0	59 on the 23rd	83.1 /+1.1	Tied 17th
Jun	108.2	118 on the 17th	82.5	74 on the 7th & 8th	95.3 /+3.9	1st
Jul	103.7	112 on the 9th & 10th	83.7	73 on the 23rd & 25th	93.7 /-1.8	45th
Aug	103.2	115 on the 4th	81.9	71 on the 16th	92.6 /-1.8	34th
Sep	100.1	111 on the 9th	78.4	69 on the 26th	89.2 /+0.0	Tied 19th
Oct	86.8	98 on the 4th	62.7	52 on the 13th	74.8 /-2.6	Tied 37th
Nov	83.3	91 on the 5th	57.0	49 on the 28th	70.1/+5.0	2nd
Dec	69.2	85 on the 1st	49.2	38 on the 18th	59.2/+3.4	4th

(*** click on month for more comprehensive monthly summary ***)

Record Highs Set in 2021

Date	Record	Previous Record
Feb 2	82 - tied record	82 in 1925
Apr 3	97 - tied record	97 in 1943
Apr 4	98 - tied record	98 in 1961
Jun 15	115 - tied record	115 in 1974
Jun 16	115 - tied record	115 in 1974
Jun 17	118	114 in 2015
Jun 18	117	115 in 2015
Sep 9	111	110 in 1990
Dec 1	85	83 in 1949
Dec 2	84 - tied record	84 in 2017

No Record Lows were set in 2021

Yuma Annual Temperature Rankings (Warmest Years)

Year	Avg Daily Temp
2017	77.5
2016	77.2
2008	77.1
1996	77.0
1995	76.8
1981	76.8
2012	76.6
2021	76.5
2018	76.5
1989	76.5

Year	Avg Max Temp
1981	91.0
1950	91.0
1958	90.6
1989	90.5
1954	90.5
1959	90.2
1962	90.1
1960	90.1
2008	90.1
2017	90.0

Year	Avg Min Temp
2017	64.9
2016	64.7
1996	64.4
2008	64.2
2005	64.2
2003	64.2
2018	64.1
2004	64.0
1997	63.9
1995	63.9

	Avg Max Temp	Highest Temp	Avg Min Temp	Lowest Temp	Avg Temp	Rank (1=Warmest, 144=Coldest)
Jan	69.3	84 on the 16th	47.0	40 on the 26th	58.1 /-0.7	36th
Feb	74.8	83 on the 2nd	49.3	42 on the 26th	62.0 /+0.1	37th
Mar	77.1	90 on the 29th	49.8	40 on the 1st	63.5 /-4.1	97th
Apr	90.2	101 on the 30th	60.1	52 on the 27th	75.1 / +2.0	Tied 18th
May	95.2	101 on the 19th	65.5	55 on the 22nd	80.4 /-0.2	Tied 33rd
Jun	106.6	116 on the 15th & 17th	78.1	67 on the 11th	92.4 /+3.3	6th
Jul	106.8	113 on the 10th & 29th	85.2	73 on the 30th	96.0 /+1.4	Tied 11th
Aug	105.4	117 on the 4th	82.5	72 on the 22nd	93.9 /-0.9	Tied 33rd
Sep	102.3	111 on the 13th	78.4	68 on the 25th	90.4 /+0.9	Tied 20th
Oct	87.6	98 on the 3rd & 4th	62.0	52 on the 13th	74.8 /-3.2	80th
Nov	84.4	92 on the 4th & 5th	57.9	49 on the 27th & 29th	71.2 /+5.1	1st
Dec	70.5	85 on the 1st	48.7	40 on the 16th & 29th	59.6 /+2.3	Tied 16th

(*** click on month for more comprehensive monthly summary ***)

Record Highs Set in 2021

Date	Record	Previous Record
Jan 14	81	80 in 2000
Jan 15	81 - tied record	81 in 1943
Jan 16	84	83 in 1961
Jun 17	116	115 in 1981
Aug 4	117	116 in 1995
Nov 30	83 - tied record	83 in 1950
Dec 1	85	84 in 1949

No Record Lows were set in 2021

El Centro Annual Temperature Rankings (Warmest Years)

Year	Avg Daily Temp
2016	76.1
2017	75.8
2014	75.6
2018	75.5
2015	75.4
2020	74.9
1986	74.9
2021	74.8
2012	74.6
2006	74.4

Year	Avg Max Temp
1934	91.7
2016	91.0
2017	90.4
2014	90.3
2020	90.1
2018	90.0
2015	89.8
2021	89.6
2012	89.6
2009	89.6

Year	Avg Min Temp
2017	61.3
2016	61.2
2015	61.1
2018	61.0
2014	60.8
1983	60.8
1984	60.5
1986	60.4
1959	60.3
2021	60.0

	Avg Max Temp	Highest Temp	Avg Min Temp	Lowest Temp	Avg Temp	Rank (1=Warmest, 96=Coldest)
Jan	70.4	85 on the 16th	41.9	35 on the 2nd & 12th	56.1 /+0.1	34th
Feb	74.9	85 on the 3rd	45.0	37 on the 19th	59.9 /+0.5	Tied 34th
Mar	76.7	94 on the 29th	47.3	37 on the 1st & 2nd	62.0 /-3.3	70th
Apr	90.6	104 on the 30th	57.4	47 on the 27th	74.0 / +3.1	13th
May	95.7	102 on the 19th	61.8	53 on the 23rd	78.7 /-0.5	Tied 40th
Jun	107.4	119 on the 17th	73.8	61 on the 11th	90.6 /+3.8	3rd
Jul	108.2	116 on the 10th	81.7	73 on the 3rd & 27th	95.0 /+1.9	7th
Aug	107.2	119 on the 4th	80.1	69 on the 22nd	93.7 /+0.1	Tied 17th
Sep	102.5	112 on the 13th	74.9	63 on the 30th	88.7 /+1.5	Tied 14th
Oct	87.1	98 on the 4th	58.2	47 on the 13th	72.6 /-2.6	Tied 74th
Nov	84.1	91 on the 4th	52.9	43 on the 27th	68.5 /+5.2	2nd
Dec	70.0	85 on the 1st	44.9	34 on the 18th & 19th	57.5 /+2.6	15th

(*** click on month for more comprehensive monthly summary ***)

Record Highs Set in 2021

Date	Record	Previous Record
Apr 30	104 - tied record	104 in 1965
Jun 17	119	115 in 1971
Jun 18	118	117 in 1936
Aug 3	117	115 in 2011
Aug 4	119	118 in 1969

Record Lows Set in 2021

Date	Record	Previous Record
May23	53	5 in 19

Arizona Statewide Temperature Maps (Data courtesy of Western Region Climate Center)

Arizona 2021 Average Maximum Temperature	Arizona 2021 Maximum Temp Departure from normal
Arizona 2021 Average Minimum Temperature	Arizona 2021 Minimum Temp Departure from normal
Arizona 2021 Average Temperature	Arizona 2021 Average Temp Departure from normal

California Statewide Temperature Maps (Data courtesy of Western Region Climate Center)

California 2021 Average Maximum Temperature	California 2021 Maximum Temp Departure from normal
California 2021 Average Minimum Temperature	California 2021 Minimum Temp Departure from normal
California 2021 Average Temperature	California 2021 Average Temp Departure from normal

2021 Phoenix Precipitation Statistics

	Precip Total	Departure	Rank (1=Wettest, 126=Driest)
Jan	0.68	-0.19	58th
Feb	Trace	-0.87	Tied 126th
Mar	0.37	-0.46	Tied 76th
Apr	0.01	-0.21	93rd
May	Trace	-0.13	Tied 126th
Jun	0.17	+0.15	Tied 17th
Jul	1.73	+0.82	17th
Aug	1.54	+0.61	26th
Sep	0.76	+0.19	45th
Oct	0.32	-0.24	55th
Nov	Trace	-0.57	Tied 126th
Dec	1.53	+0.74	25th

(*** click on month for more comprehensive monthly summary ***)

Phoenix Record Daily Rainfall for 2021

Date	Record	Previous Record
Jul 3	0.26	0.22 in 1927
Jul 23	0.80	0.41 in 2002
Dec 24	1.00	0.93 in 1944

2021 Yuma Precipitation Statistics

	Precip Total	Departure	Rank (1=Wettest, 144=Driest)
Jan	1.32	+0.93	11th
Feb	0.00	-0.38	Tied 144th
Mar	Trace	-0.39	Tied 144th
Apr	Trace	-0.14	Tied 144th
May	0.00	-0.06	Tied 144th
Jun	0.00	-0.01	Tied 144th
Jul	0.43	+0.19	23rd
Aug	0.38	+0.18	Tied 43rd
Sep	Trace	-0.68	Tied 144th
Oct	0.06	-0.07	Tied 52nd
Nov	0.00	-0.23	Tied 144th
Dec	0.25	-0.18	64th

(*** click on month for more comprehensive monthly summary ***)

Yuma Record Daily Rainfall for 2021

Date	Record	Previous Record
Jan 20	1.12	0.56 in 1933

2021 El Centro Precipitation Statistics

	Precip Total	Departure	Rank (1=Wettest, 96=Driest)
Jan	1.21	+0.80	8th
Feb	Trace	-0.38	Tied 96th
Mar	Trace	-0.29	Tied 96th
Apr	Trace	-0.08	Tied 96th
May	0.00	-0.07	Tied 96th
Jun	0.00	-0.00	Tied 96th
Jul	Trace	-0.11	Tied 96th
Aug	0.23	+0.08	Tied 30th
Sep	Trace	-0.08	Tied 96th
Oct	Missing	Missing	Missing
Nov	Missing	Missing	Missing
Dec	Missing	Missing	Missing

(*** click on month for more comprehensive monthly summary ***)

El Centro Record Daily Rainfall for 2021

Date	Record	Previous Record
Jul 2	Trace - tied record	Trace in 1977

Arizona Statewide Precipitation Maps (Data courtesy of Western Region Climate Center)

Arizona 2021

Precipitation

Arizona 2021 Precip Departure from normal

Arizona 2021 Precip Percent Normal

California Statewide Precipitation Maps (Data courtesy of Western Region Climate Center)

California 2021

Precipitation

California 2021 Precip Departure from normal

California 2021 Precip Percent Normal

 CLIMATE REPORT 
 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
 503 PM MST SAT JAN 1 2022
 
 ...................................
 
 ...THE PHOENIX AZ CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR OF 2021...
 
 CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1991 TO 2020
 CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1895 TO 2021
 
 WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART   LAST YEAR`S         
                 VALUE   DATE(S)   VALUE   FROM     VALUE               
                                           NORMAL                       
 ..............................................................
 TEMPERATURE (F)
 RECORD
  HIGH            122   06/26/1990                                      
  LOW              16   01/07/1913                                      
 HIGHEST          118   06/17        114       4                        
 LOWEST            36   01/25         35       1                        
 AVG. MAXIMUM    88.2               87.1     1.1                        
 AVG. MINIMUM    64.5               64.1     0.4                        
 MEAN            76.3               75.6     0.7                        
 DAYS MAX >= 90   176              173.0     3.0                        
 DAYS MAX <= 32     0                0.0     0.0                        
 DAYS MAX >= 100  104                                                   
 DAYS MAX >= 110   22                                                   
 DAYS MIN <= 32     0                0.6    -0.6                        
 DAYS MIN <= 0      0                0.0     0.0                        
 DAYS MIN >= 90     9                                                   
 
 PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
 RECORD
  MAXIMUM       19.73   1905                                            
  MINIMUM        2.82   2002                                            
 TOTALS          7.11               7.22   -0.11                        
 DAYS >= .01       41               33.4     7.6                        
 DAYS >= .10       23               17.2     5.8                        
 DAYS >= .50        3                4.1    -1.1                        
 DAYS >= 1.00       1                0.9     0.1                        
 GREATEST
  24 HR. TOTAL   1.01   07/22 TO 07/23                                  
                        12/24 TO 12/25                                  
 
 
 DEGREE DAYS
 HEATING TOTAL    678                874    -196                        
  SINCE 7/1       191                378    -187                        
 COOLING TOTAL   4932               4765     167                        
  SINCE 1/1      4932               4764     168                        
 ..............................................................
 
 WIND (MPH)
 AVERAGE WIND SPEED              6.5                                    
 HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    69/080    DATE  08/16                  
 
 AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)     32                                            
 
 WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH 
 THUNDERSTORM             30     HEAVY RAIN                13           
 RAIN                     14     LIGHT RAIN                55           
 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE     0

 CLIMATE REPORT 
 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
 503 PM MST SAT JAN 01 2022
 
 ...................................
 
 ...THE YUMA AZ CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR OF 2021...
 
 CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1991 TO 2020
 CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1876 TO 2021
 
 WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART   LAST YEAR`S         
                 VALUE   DATE(S)   VALUE   FROM     VALUE               
                                           NORMAL                       
 ..............................................................
 TEMPERATURE (F)
 RECORD
  HIGH            124   07/28/1995                                      
  LOW              22   01/24/1937                                      
                        12/26/1911                                      
                        01/20/1883                                      
 HIGHEST          117   08/04        115       2                        
 LOWEST            40   03/01         36       4                        
                        12/16                                           
                        12/29                                           
 AVG. MAXIMUM    89.2               88.1     1.1                        
 AVG. MINIMUM    63.7               63.8    -0.1                        
 MEAN            76.5               75.9     0.6                        
 DAYS MAX >= 90   184              181.0     3.0                        
 DAYS MAX <= 32     0                0.0     0.0                        
 DAYS MAX >= 100  107                                                   
 DAYS MAX >= 110   26                                                   
 DAYS MIN <= 32     0                0.1    -0.1                        
 DAYS MIN <= 0      0                0.0     0.0                        
 DAYS MIN >= 90     3                                                   
 
 PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
 RECORD
  MAXIMUM       11.41   1905                                            
  MINIMUM        0.03   2002                                            
 TOTALS          2.44               3.28   -0.84                        
 DAYS >= .01       18               16.6     1.4                        
 DAYS >= .10        7                7.9    -0.9                        
 DAYS >= .50        1                1.4    -0.4                        
 DAYS >= 1.00       1                0.4     0.6                        
 GREATEST
  24 HR. TOTAL   1.12   01/20 TO 01/20                                  
 
 
 DEGREE DAYS
 HEATING TOTAL    567                679    -112                        
  SINCE 7/1       181                306    -125                        
 COOLING TOTAL   4859               4705     154                        
  SINCE 1/1      4859               4704     155                        
 ..............................................................
 
 WIND (MPH)
 AVERAGE WIND SPEED              7.3                                    
 HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    50/300    DATE  07/30                  
 
 AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)     35                                            
 
 WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH 
 THUNDERSTORM             19     HEAVY RAIN                 3           
 RAIN                      5     LIGHT RAIN                22           
 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE     1

 CLIMATE REPORT 
 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
 503 PM MST SAT JAN 01 2022
 
 ...................................
 
 ...THE IMPERIAL CA CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR OF 2021...
 
 CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1991 TO 2020
 CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1925 TO 2021
 
 WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART   LAST YEAR`S         
                 VALUE   DATE(S)   VALUE   FROM     VALUE               
                                           NORMAL                       
 ..............................................................
 TEMPERATURE (F)
 RECORD
  HIGH            122   06/20/2017                                      
  LOW              16   01/22/1937                                      
 HIGHEST          119   06/17        116       3                        
                        08/04                                           
 LOWEST            34   12/16         31       3                        
                        12/18                                           
                        12/19                                           
 AVG. MAXIMUM    89.6               88.6     1.0                        
 AVG. MINIMUM    60.0               58.7     1.3                        
 MEAN            74.8               73.7     1.1                        
 DAYS MAX >= 90   180              181.0    -1.0                        
 DAYS MAX <= 32     0                0.0     0.0                        
 DAYS MAX >= 100  117                                                   
 DAYS MAX >= 110   37                                                   
 DAYS MIN <= 32     0                4.1    -4.1                        
 DAYS MIN <= 0      0                0.0     0.0                        
 DAYS MIN >= 90     0                                                   
 
 
 
 DEGREE DAYS
 HEATING TOTAL    786                966    -180                        
  SINCE 7/1       253                430    -177                        
 COOLING TOTAL   4458               4162     296                        
  SINCE 1/1      4458               4162     296                        
 ..............................................................
 
 WIND (MPH)
 AVERAGE WIND SPEED              7.0                                    
 HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    55/270    DATE  12/14                  
 
 AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)     38                                            
 
 WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH 
 THUNDERSTORM             11     HEAVY RAIN                 4           
 RAIN                      3     LIGHT RAIN                22           
 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE     2